William A. Brown and Della Reese

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Husband William A. Brown

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           Born: 19 Aug 1850 - Georgia
     Christened: 
           Died: 15 May 1938 1
         Buried:  - Caddo Cem., Joshua, Johnson Co., Texas

       Marriage: 21 Aug 1889 - Hill Co., Texas 2

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Wife Della Reese

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           Born: Abt 1874 - Texas
     Christened: 
           Died: Abt 1892
         Buried: 

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         Father: Hubbard N. Reese (Abt 1820-1889)
         Mother: Nancy T. Rainbolt (Abt 1841-1875/1877)

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Children

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1 F Beatrice Brown

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           Born: 2 May 1890
     Christened: 
           Died: 12 Jan 1967 - Redlands, San Bernardino Co., California 3
         Buried:  - Hillside Mem. Park, Redlands, San Bernardino Co., California

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General Notes: Husband - William A. Brown

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Find-a-Grave Memorial # 81671110:

William A. Brown was my grandfather who died before I was born. He was married to Sarah Anna Crosley on May 6, 1894. Their son Malkum Kirk Brown is my father. Their oldest son, William Valentine Brown carved their grave markers. They had another son, Joseph Johnston Brown and two daughters, Etta Josephine and Stella Mae. William had also had a daughter, Beatrice, from his first marriage.

CENSUS:

<pre>1900 Bosque Co., Texas, Justice Precinct No 7, ED 10; June 11; sheet 9B
159/159
William A. Brown Aug 1860 39 M6 Tx Un Ga Day Laborer
Sarah " wife Jan 1873 27 M6/3/2 Ar Ms Ms
Beatrice " dau May 1890 10 S Tx Tx Tx
William V. " son Jan 1896 4 S Tx Tx Ar
Joseph J. " son Dec 1898 1 S Tx Tx Ar </pre>

It appears that they live in a tent.

<pre>1910 McLennan Co., Texas, Justice precinct 4, ED 101; Apr 19; sheet 3B
54/54
William M. Brown 50 M2/16 Tx US Ga Farm Laborer RH
Sarah " 37 M1/16/9/5 Ar Ms Ms None
William, Jr. " 14 S Tx Tx Ar Farm Laborer
Johnston " 11 S Tx Tx Ar Farm Laborer
Etta " 6 S Tx Tx Ar None
Malcom " 2 S Co Tx Ar None
Estelle " 9/12 S Tx Tx Ar None </pre>

He rents a house.

<pre>1920 McLennan Co., Texas, Prect 8, ED 148; Feb 19; sheet 11B
216/217
W. M. A. Brown 69 Ga Ga Ga Farmer/Gen farm
Sarah " wife 46 Ar Ms Ms Housework
William " son 23 Tx Ga Ar Help on farm
John " son 20 Tx Ga Ar Help on farm
Etta " dau 16 Tx Ga Ar Helps in house
Malkum " son 12 Co Ga Ar none
Stella " dau 10 Tx Ga Ar none </pre>

He rents a home.

<pre>1930 Johnson Co., Texas, Justice Precinct 1, ED 126-11; Apr 28; sheet 13B
272/273
William M. A. Brown 79 M29 Ga NC Ga Farmer/General Farm
Sarah A. " 58 M21 Ar Ms Ms none
William V. " 34 S Tx Ga Ar Farm Laborer
Joseph J. " 31 S Tx Ga Ar Farm Laborer
Etta J. " 26 S Tx Ga Ar Helper/Housework
Malkum K. " 22 S Co Ga Ar Farm Laborer
Stella N. " 20 S Tx Ga Ar Helper/Housework </pre>

TEXAS DEATH CERTIFICATE 24045:

William A. Brown died at 307 S. Robinson, Cleburne, Johnson Co., Texas May 15, 1938 at age 87 yrs 9 mos 25 days.
male, white, widowed, laborer; wife Sarah Annah Brown
Length of residence in city of death: 40 years
Born Aug. 19, 1850 in Georgia
Father: John Brown born in Georgia
Mother: Betha Taylor born in Georgia
Informant: Mrs. Clorence Lynn, Cleburne, Texas

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General Notes: Wife - Della Reese

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Della drowned in a creek behind the house that she lived in not long after the birth of her first child. See e-mail from Ann Murdock.

Find-a-Grave Memorial # 27481885:

Beatrice Brown was born to William Addison Brown and Della Reese in May 1890 in Hill County, Texas. Her mother died when she was very young and her father married Sarah Anna Crosley, my grandmother.

E-mail from Ann Murdock, 23 Jan 2013:

Della Reese was married to my grandfather, William Addison Brown in Hill County, Texas in 1889. I descended from his second wife, Sarah Anna Crosley, but have searched & searched for infor on Della. Her granddaughter who is now 96 years old told me quite a few years ago that Della was buried in the Peoria Cemetery near Peoria, Texas. My sister did obtain the original marriage license for William A. & Della from the library in Hillsboro, Texas. She lives in Peoria and was able to do some research there. We are looking for Beatrice, Della's daughter and my aunt's birth certificate when we go back. Evidently it has William's middle name as Abner, which is incorrect. It is Addison. Do you have any more info about Della? I know that she drowned in a creek behind the house that they lived in about 1892. William was courting my grandmother (old letters) in 1989 and she turned him down for marriage. Then he married Della and they had Beatrice. After Della died, he resumed his courtship of my grandmother and married her in 1894. (Again, old letters.) No mention of Della in the letters, only his little girl.Would like to hear from you.

E-mail from Ann Murdock, 26 Jan 2013:

Actually, his name was William Addison Brown according to my father, who was his son. At times, he added the Madison, then used W.M.A. Brown. I have many letters that he wrote to my grandmother before their marriage signed with the W.M.A. Feel free to use any info that I have provided. According to verbal family history, William A. Brown killed his stepfather when he was in his teens. "Laura Callie" Brown married a man named Charles Rose in Comanche, Texas and is listed on the 1870 census with him. According to my mother, the stepfather drank a lot and would come home and beat his wife & stepson. One night, they barred the door. When he came home and couldn't get in, he started cursing and carrying on. William A. got the shotgun and shot through the door, killing him. He and his mother packed their belonging in their wagon and left. According to my older half brother who is almost 86 years old, William hid out for a while on the Brazos River in case anyone was looking for him. As the story goes, the next thing te family knew, he was riding with the Texas Rangers. Another brother, just older that me told me today that he could never find any records, nor could I. He said that William rode with the rangers out of Laredo, Texas. We have always heard that he was also a deputy sheriff in Hill County, Texas. That was an appointed office back then and no records were kept except for the elected positions My sister lives in Peoria, Texas and my daughter in Aquilla, Texas. Beatrice was born either in Aquilla or Hillsboro. Beatrice's daughter told me that Della was buried in the cemetery in Peoria. There are two cemeteries there, but no one has been able to find her. We assume she has an unmarked grave. My sister was able to obtain the original marriage license for William A. & Della from the library in Hillsboro, Texas. Evidently it was never picked up after their marriage.

1 "Find-a-Grave," Memorial # 81671110.

2 "Hill County, Texas Marriage Records," Vol 4, pg 407. Repository: Hill County Courthouse, Hillsboro Texas.

3 "Find-a-Grave," Memorial # 27481885.